The Bowl of Saki Commentary

What is this prayer? This prayer is the continual process of approach to God and submission to God's Will. If one prays a little, the prayer may be answered, but in the flux of things the answer may not be noticed and then one will doubt the merit of prayer. Mohammed instituted five prayers daily, which really meant a rhythmical concentration on God, and it was the sincere prayers in the mosque which brought victory to the armies on the battlefields. With the advent of insincerity came the dawn of defeat.

To the Sufis, cessation of prayer constitutes defeat. Every breath, every step, and every thought is a prayer for them. This is the great merit of Fikr, continually carrying the thought of God on the breath, so great it cannot be compared to anything else. By prayer, Sufis mean Fikr; God alone is wise, God alone is good, and therefore full dependence on God is the only and the greatest virtue.